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Hubris Syndrome - Psychologists Discover New Personality Disorder Among Political Leaders
October 30, 2010, last updated April 29, 2012
By LOUISE CARR, Contributing Columnist
It’s commonly
believed that politicians won’t get anywhere in today’s political
climate without a strong dose of persuasiveness, charm, self-confidence,
and the willingness to take risks and make difficult decisions. After
all, who elects a leader who shies away from decision-making and doesn’t
speak up for the country? You don’t even consider running for office
unless you believe you are the best person for it.
But these
qualities of successful leadership often walk hand-in-hand with less
desirable traits – refusal to listen to advice, impetuous behavior,
impulsiveness and recklessness.
According to a
new study by David Owen and Jonathan Davidson at the House of Lords,
London, UK and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA, published in 2009, when
these negative traits take over, the leader’s capacity to make judgments
and decisions is severely compromised, leading to political and
societal disaster.
This behavior, the researchers claim, points to "hubris"--- an excessive pride and self-confidence along with overwhelming contempt for others.
Is hubris an exaggerated form of normal leadership characteristics? Or
is hubris in political leaders an alarming personality disorder that
causes harm to everyday people?
What Is Hubris Syndrome?
The authors
look at hubris in leaders as a personality disorder, a syndrome with
defined symptoms and a cause. Power causes hubris syndrome – it’s a
disorder of power and high office, particularly when power is associated
with success and when minimal restraints are placed on the leader.
Symptoms of hubris syndrome may be familiar to anyone who has observed
the nastier side of politics over the years.
People with
hubris syndrome often take action first and foremost to enhance their
own image and place an exaggerated importance on how they look and come
across to the public. That politician who turns up only to events that
further their career and has a scripted response that always manages to
be about themselves? Hubris syndrome.
Leaders with
hubris syndrome tend to speak in a messianic tone, showing high levels
of self confidence that border on the “god-like.” Hubris syndrome
sufferers equate themselves with a higher power and believe they are
accountable only to that higher power – not to the people. The leader
who uses the royal “we” – “we have become a grandmother” – is exhibiting
hubris syndrome.
Hubris
syndrome is characterized by a loss of contact with reality, a reckless
and restless impulse ultimately ending in incompetence.
Who Suffers From Hubris Syndrome?
Parable of the Parrot by Marvin X
The economic and political dependence of this African neo-colonial bourgeoisie is reflected in its culture of apenmanship and parrotry enforced on a restive population through police boots, barbed wire, a gowned clergy and judiciary; their ideas are spread by a corpus of state intellectuals, the academic and journalistic laureates of the neo-colonial establishment.
--Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Decolonizing the Mind
for Ngugi Wa Thiong'o and the Pan African Revolution
The
king wanted parrots around him. He wants all his ministers to wear
parrot masks. He said he had to do the same for the previous king. He
only said what the king wanted to hear, nothing more, so he advised his
ministers to do the same. In fact, they must encourage the people to
become parrots.
Yes, he wanted a nation of parrots. Don't say anything the kings does not want to hear. Everything said should be music to his ears. And don't worry, he will tell you exactly what he wants to hear in his regular meetings and public addresses to the nation. Everyone will be kept informed what parrot song to sing. No one must be allowed to disagree with the king. This would be sacrilegious and punishable by death.
The
king must be allowed to carry out the dreams that come to his head. No
one else should dream, only the king. In this manner, according to the
king, the people can make real progress. There shall always be ups and
downs, but have faith in the king and everything will be all right. Now
everyone sing the national anthem, the king told the people.
There must be a chorus of parrots, a choir, mass choir singing in perfect unity. Let there be parrots on every corner of the kingdom, in every branch and tree. Let all the boys sing like parrots in the beer halls. Let the preacher lead the congregation in parrot songs. Let the teachers train students to sound like parrots. Let the university professors give good grades to those who best imitate parrot sounds. Let the journalists allow no stories over the airwaves and in print if they do not have the parrot sound.
The king was
happy when the entire nation put on their parrot masks. Those who
refused suffered greatly until they agreed to join in. The state
academics and intellectuals joined loudly in parroting the king's every
wish. Thank God the masses do not hear them pontificate or read their
books. After all, these intellectual and academic parrots are well paid,
tenured and eat much parrot seed.
Their magic song impresses the bourgeoisie who have a vested interest in keeping the song of the parrot alive. Deep down in the hood, in the bush, the parrot song is seldom heard, only the sound of the hawk gliding through the air in stone silence looking for a parrot to eat.
--Marvin X 4/5/10
from The Wisdom of Plato Negro, parables/fables, Black Bird Press, Oakland.
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